Satch...Meeting was really an amazing experience. Lindsey if you see this, thanks for your efforts to make the Meet & Greet in DC @ the Warner Theater awesome.
Joe...I think it is wonderful that you take time to sit with your fans and us ordinary folks. I have been playing guitar for 16 years. First time I heard one of your songs from the Surfing with the Alien album, I was hooked. Every album since has challenged me to learn more about the guitar & every time I manage to play even bits of one of your songs, it instills so much confidence in me as a person & a player. After meeting you, listening to & speaking with you, I was able to gain such confidence in my playing ability because like me, you are also just a person. No offense! Much more talented musically than I, but just interacting with you, let me see I COULD ALSO play with confidence and as difficult as some arrangements are with practice I now know for sure, I can play anything I set out to learn. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
After the show, I must have played guitar for 7 hours that night as my hearing came back into focus. I didn't care about work or anything other than re-learning Baroque, one of favorite tracks. I truly hope at some point you are able to read this short message. The show at Warner theater in DC, was just incredible. You mentioned to us, you were slightly unhappy with the acoustics during your sound-check, but trust me Sir, from the 4th row dead center, you all sounded AMAZING (ha-ha). Also, what a treat it was for me to see Leslie play. Wow, if I can be working that hard at 63, life is good. Thank you for the photo and thank you for such a wonderful set list. The whole time I was watching, all I could tell is that your a guy who LOVES what you do. It just never gets old for you.
I described to my father (Leslie's age & also a Joe) your music & that I was going to your concert. I said there are very few words, but as you listen to Joe's music, it is as if, each note is a word and together every song tells a beautiful story. A story you can remember time and time again; like words to any other song. It is this reason I believe your songs are so powerful and that you are so successful. I am forever a fan of the guitar and your music. Meeting you was truly an experience I will carry with me throughout my lifetime. I plan on traveling more often to see you play around the country and the world. I greatly look forward to meeting again one day. Until then, keep doing what you do. Your passion for music allows folks like me to listen to something and all of a sudden, I am in a different place. My horrible day is in the past. Thank you for that as well.
The insight you gave us was remarkable and unexpected. The projects you mentioned are something I am greatly anticipating. Anything you produce is of interest to me. Maybe I will bump into you at NAMM this January through a friend I will be attending. I wish I could offer something in return. I am a devoted fan, and suppose that is all you hope for. One thing that sparked my interest is you mentioned you donate guitars. I do a tremendous amount of work with Non profit organizations and one in particular would greatly benefit from being able to auction off a couple of those. It is an organization solely dedicated to Bomb Technicians and their family who have either been victims of explosions (left, without arms or legs) or to help aid the families who have lost loved ones as they look for ways to continue moving forward without income or their loved ones. Thanks for the time before the show, the show itself and being such a genuinely remarkable musician and person. ROCK ON. Best Wishes JSK
